Quick Answer
The answer is Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP). This service is the correct choice because it is purpose-built to detect and redact PCI data in cloud storage by using built-in infoType detectors like `CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER` to automatically identify credit card numbers (PANs) and apply de-identification transformations such as redaction or masking directly on Cloud Storage buckets, ensuring compliance with PCI DSS requirements. On the Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer exam, this question tests your understanding of how to operationalize data protection controls within Google Cloud’s native services; a common trap is confusing Cloud DLP with Cloud Key Management Service (KMS) or Cloud HSM, which handle encryption keys but not content inspection or redaction. Remember the memory tip: DLP stands for “Detect, Locate, Protect”—if you need to find and scrub sensitive data, think DLP, not encryption.
This PCSE practice question tests your understanding of supporting compliance requirements. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is deploying a new application that will process credit card data and must comply with PCI DSS. They plan to use Google Cloud services. Which service should they use to detect and redact sensitive data stored in Cloud Storage buckets?
Cloud Key Management Service (KMS)
Why wrong: KMS manages encryption keys, not data inspection.
VPC Service Controls
Why wrong: VPC Service Controls enforce perimeter security, not data discovery.
Cloud Audit Logs
Why wrong: Audit logs track actions, not sensitive data content.
Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
DLP can scan and redact sensitive data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the correct service because it is specifically designed to inspect, classify, and redact sensitive data such as credit card numbers (PANs) in Cloud Storage buckets. It uses built-in infoType detectors (e.g., `CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER`) to identify PCI DSS-protected data and can automatically apply de-identification transformations like redaction or masking to comply with PCI DSS requirements.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Cloud Key Management Service (KMS)
Why it's wrong here
KMS manages encryption keys, not data inspection.
VPC Service Controls
Why it's wrong here
VPC Service Controls enforce perimeter security, not data discovery.
Cloud Audit Logs
Why it's wrong here
Audit logs track actions, not sensitive data content.
Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Why this is correct
DLP can scan and redact sensitive data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between data protection services that handle encryption (KMS) versus those that handle content inspection and redaction (DLP), leading candidates to mistakenly choose KMS when the question explicitly asks about detecting and redacting sensitive data.
Detailed technical explanation
Cloud DLP uses a combination of deterministic and probabilistic detection algorithms, including context-based rules and regular expressions, to identify sensitive infoTypes like `CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER` (which follows the Luhn algorithm). For redaction, DLP can apply transformations such as replacing the first 12 digits with asterisks while preserving the last four digits, or fully masking the field, and it supports batch jobs that scan entire Cloud Storage buckets via a DLP inspection job configured with a `StorageConfig` pointing to the bucket.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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FAQ
Supporting compliance requirements — This question tests Supporting compliance requirements — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) — Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the correct service because it is specifically designed to inspect, classify, and redact sensitive data such as credit card numbers (PANs) in Cloud Storage buckets. It uses built-in infoType detectors (e.g., `CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER`) to identify PCI DSS-protected data and can automatically apply de-identification transformations like redaction or masking to comply with PCI DSS requirements.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCSE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCSE exam.
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